Butterfly Milkweed

Butterfly milkweed is a native prairie forb in the Asclepidaceae family. It has a showy inflorescence. Its flowers can be bright orange, yellow to red.

Butterfly milkweed attracts a plethora of butterflies and other insects because of its excellent nectar production. This is where the name comes from. It is an important as a host plant for the monarch butterfly, the tiger and the black swallowtail butterflies.

Butterfly milkweed is found across the United States except the northwest. It is found across the prairie.

It is a low to moderately preferred browse plant species for white-tailed deer. Sometimes Northern bobwhite eat its seeds.

It is a popular garden ornamental plant.

Native Americans and early settlers used its roots to treat lung inflammation and rheumatism, as an analgesic, emetic, laxative, dermatological aid and gynecological aid.